1. Anticipate it 2. Savor it as it unfolds 3. Express it 4. Recall it later as a happy memory

Stage 1 She tells about her daughter asking to look, again, at the book of birthday party cakes a month before her party. Gretchen thought it inefficient—the party was too far away. But she realized that for her daughter, looking at the book was stage 1 of happiness: anticipating.

And sometimes anticipating a happy event is just as much fun as the event itself.

I know. I was anticipating a trip to the beach in November. It was bringing me happiness just to think about it. (But it got cancelled so I’m looking for another event to anticipate.)

Stage 3 Expressing it is fun. Don’t we all enjoy telling someone about our vacation or our greatest find? (Maybe not so fun for others to hear, but that’s a different matter...) Being able to share our joy with others is a joy within itself.

If you’re a John Piper or Jonathan Edwards reader, you can’t help but think of passages such as these when you hear of stage 3:

God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.

When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. . . . He that testifies his idea of God's glory [doesn't] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it. ~ Jonathan Edwards

Stage 4 I know the happiness in reflecting when I sit on the couch with my daughters and look at old pictures. Remembering the happy times is a happy time.

So what? Reminding ourselves that happiness isn’t just in stage 2, “the moment,” can help us all find happiness in more times and places, including, returning home from a vacation or in the midst of a transition or even in the grief over a loss.

After all, our fullest times of happiness are yet to come.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

11 comments:

Lisa, May the Lord continue to heal you through your grief. Thank you for sharing about the stages of happiness, that Gretchen wrote about. I have visited her blog.They are very insightful.The statement of our greatest happiness yet to come, is one of anticipation ! Thank you for sharing Blessings,Sue

So true. Sometimes the anticipation of an event is even better than the event itself. And it's so wonderful to have memories to look back on. God was so kind to make us that way. How wonderful it is to anticipate what God has store for us in the future, both in this life and the next. Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.Charlotte